I was flattered when my former student, Harrison Witt, asked me to write an arrangement for his Senior Recital in his Jazz Voice degree at Western Michigan University. When he settled on an “Out Of This World” theme, we came to “Lost In The Stars” as a song to write for him to sing, along with trio and vocal quartet. Harrison started studying with me in middle school, and sang throughout high school with me in The Rockford Aces.
Of course, his recital was canceled this past April. Luckily, he was able to record a number of the songs at a local recording studio, with his classmate musicians, and release them on his YouTube channel. (You should subscribe!).
I transcribed and wrote vocalese lyrics to a great Gerry Mulligan solo on the song, which was perhaps cruel – but Harrison pulled it off! I think of a senior recital as an opportunity to thank the teachers and mentors who have shepherded you through the college experience, and made that the focus of the lyrics, tying it back in to the theme of the original song.
I loved writing for the vocal group (sung beautifully here), but the feature throughout had to be Harrison’s beautiful baritone. Enjoy this classic song, and close your eyes and imagine him delivering it on stage rather than in a recording studio. Someday…